can be altogether delufory. Nay Evidence SERM. I. of this Nature, though not fo ftriking, seems sometimes equivalent to that of sense, and is productive of as undoubted an Affurance. But this brings me to fhew

IIdly, That there is fuch a Sufficiency of Evidence for Christianity, that we cannot, confiftently with Reafon, refufe to be determined by it.

There are as ftrong proofs, that Jefus and his Apostles wrought Miracles, as that fuch Men ever exifted. And the only Reason, why few or none difpute their Existence, whereas feveral deny the Reality of their Miracles, is; that their Existence confidered apart from Circumftances relative to us, is an uninterefting Point; and, nothing depending upon it, Reafon is left in it's full Freedom to determine as it fees evidence. But the Miracles being wrought to establish a Religion, by which we are to be faved or condemned; the Paffions immediately take the alarm, and are up in Arms as against an Enemy that is come to disturb their Repofe, and reduce their exorbitant Power. For the Resistance to Truth bears generally an exact Proportion to it's Weight or Moment,

It

SERM. I. It is idle for the Deifts to run out in

to long Declamations against Historical Evidence; that it is in many Cafes precarious and uncertain; that Hiftorians give different, and fometimes contradictory Reports of the very fame Action. This is only to empty their Quiver in the Air without aiming at a certain Mark. It is to discharge their Artillery against Hiftorical Evidence at large, without levelling it against the particular Point in Debate the Question not being, whether Historical Evidence may not be sometimes uncertain and inconclufive? But whether any Evidence can be fo, that is fo circumftanced as that for Chriftianity is? Where, if there had been any Impofture, it was utterly impoffible but that the Imposture must have been difcovered and the World undeceived. Thousands could not have been converted to Chriftianity, and have died for it, unless it had carried the ftrongeft Conviction with it. For Men will not embrace a new Inftitution, fubverfive of every other, in Oppofition to their former Prejudices and worldly Interefts, without very forcible Proofs. Miraculous Facts faid to be done in the Eye of the World

for

for a Course of Years, before a great Num- SERM. I. ber of Witneffes, before Enemies as well as Friends (not to confirm an established Religion, but to build a new one upon the Ruins of the former) could not have been believed to be true, if they were not fo, by those, who lived at that Juncture; and in those public Places where they pretended to work them; fuch as Jerufalem, Ephefus, Antioch, Corinth, &c. For a Set of Men to endeavour to deceive the World in such an aftonishing Manner, would have been looked upon as an audacious and unparellelled Attempt to impose upon the Senses of Mankind; and Chriftianity in that Cafe would have been like the Grafs growing upon the Houfe-Top; by lying fo open and exposed, and wanting a fufficient Depth of Soil, it would have withered away of itfelf, and prevented the Violence of any hoftile Hand.

But fuppofe, through fome unaccountable Enthusiasm or Madness which then seized and poffeffed the Minds of the People, it had spread far and near; yet in this Cafe the Jewish Rulers and Magiftrates could never have stood by unconcerned, as idle Spectators. They were highly interefted

I

SERM. I. efted to detect the Falfhood, and to do themselves Justice, as being charged with the Murder of an innocent Perfon. They were obliged in Duty to their Law, in Charity to their own Nation and the World, to fupprefs, as far as they could, the Belief of the Resurrection, and the fubfequent Miracles wrought in Confirmation of it. By their Authority they could, and by their Inclination they would have exploded the Impofture they would have invalidated all the Testimonies relating to thefe falfe Facts, if false they had been, by producing ftrong Counter-Evidence.

The Apostles on the other Hand, fuppofing the Truth of the Resurrection, had all the Reasons that worldly Prudence could fuggeft to have concealed it; fince they could not but foresee, that to maintain it would draw upon them a Train of fatal Confequences. But fuppofing the Falfhood of it, all the Motives both of this World and the next confpired against their Propagation of it. They could not think that the Chiefs of the Jewish State would let them publish every where throughout the World, that they had fhed innocent Blood, the Blood of the Prince of Life,

whom

God had raised up, without calling them to SERM. I. an Account for it.

A long continued Succeffion of wonderful Works, many of them said to have been performed in Places of the greatest Resort, (as any one that reads the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles may find) must have laid open to public Examination; and, if false, to public Detection. The chief Men among them, as their Reputation, Religion and Interest were struck at, had all the Motives to detect and suppress Christianity (which were wanting for the Propagation and Success of it) and they had all the Advantages imaginable to compass their End. And had the Men of Power and Policy, who were extreme to mark any Thing amifs in their Conduct, convicted the Apostles of one Falfhood; their Credit muft have been for ever after blafted. Truth itself would have been fufpected from Perfons proved guilty of a folemn and deliberate Villainy, yet pretending to act it in the Name of God: but Falfhood could not have been credited. Imposture is like that Kind of Animal, which does a great deal of Mischief; but then it is only while it works in Secret and under Cover :

As